A total of 141 people were arrested in Newcastle over the weekend as police responded to a large protest that blocked coal exports from the world’s largest coal port and disrupted other shipping operations.
NSW Police said that by 5.30pm on Sunday 30 November, those arrested included 18 juveniles dealt with under the Young Offender’s Act and 121 adults charged with offences under the Crimes Act and Marine Safety Act. Two women were also arrested aboard a ship off the Newcastle coastline, with inquiries continuing.
The arrests occurred as part of the People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port, organised by climate group Rising Tide, which began on Friday and continued through to Monday morning.
During the event, coal ship movements were suspended, with Rising Tide announcing that the Port Authority of NSW confirmed that no coal ships entered Newcastle Harbour on Sunday.
Police response
Police said they maintained a high-visibility operation across the weekend to ensure public safety. They reported several incidents, including a pursuit on the harbour after a boat allegedly entered an exclusion zone and collided with a police jet ski. The 26-year-old woman involved was charged with offences under the Marine Safety Act and granted conditional bail.
Officers also responded to an alleged assault at Foreshore Park, where a 46-year-old man sustained lacerations and was taken to Calvary Mater Hospital in a stable condition. An 18-year-old man was charged with assault and wounding offences and refused bail.
In a statement, NSW Police said:
“The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community and there will be zero tolerance for illegal and dangerous behaviour.”
Industry criticism
The NSW Minerals Council condemned the protest, saying it placed people at risk and harmed the local economy.
NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said, “As expected, the ‘Rising Tide’ protest organisers have once again displayed a total disregard for public safety. There was a collision with a Police vessel, an alleged assault within the protest camp, and as expected, mass arrests of people who have chosen to break the law.”
He said the protest forced two cruise liners to cancel planned stops at the Port, costing the Hunter economy nearly one million dollars, and prevented at least two other non-coal vessels from entering the harbour.
“While any disruption to coal exports will be minimal and temporary, the damage to Rising Tide’s credibility is significant and permanent,” Mr Galilee said.
Protest actions
Rising Tide said that thousands of people took part in the flotilla, which saw hundreds of kayaks and swimmers enter Newcastle Harbour in defiance of a marine exclusion zone. On Monday morning, Rising Tide said a further sixteen people locked onto coal loaders and conveyor belts, halting coal loading operations.
The group called on the federal government to stop approving new coal mines and to impose a 78 per cent tax on coal export profits to fund new industries and retraining for workers as the world transitions away from coal.
Rising Tide spokesperson Zack Schofield said, “We are disrupting coal exports from Newcastle again today because the government is failing to act on climate and failing to support workers with a well funded transition plan to support new jobs and industries.”
